What is the best time?

[muthanna72]

Dear all,
I would like to know the best time for collecting seashells, is it in the day or in the night? With big big thanks for all.

Muthanna
<img src="smile/tongue.gif" alt="" border="0" />

[paul monfils]

If you are collecting beach shells of course it really doesn't matter. The same shells will be lying there day or night. But if you are collecting live specimens, many species are active at night that are hidden during the daytime. Such species can often be found during the day by turning over rocks, sifting sand, etc., but at night many such species are actively crawling around and easier to see. Other species are plainly visible both day and night.

[muthanna72]

Thank you very much Mr. Paul,
Yes I m going to collect a live seashells, that’s why in last October I was shelling in the day & after the sunset before the full dark I was leaving the water & I was walking I found 2 Cepraeas on the rocks & one Conus in the sand I found them easily. Thank you I m going to buy night diving light.
Muthanna
 <img src="images/smiley/up.gif" alt="" border="0" />

[david touitou]

Hi,

Effectively, most of seashells go out at night. I noticed that they are mostly active just after the sunset. They do not hunt the whole night (too dangerous) and if they find their prey they go back to their hiding place. I studied them in live and in aquarium. In France, with the cowries, as soon as I turned light off, they were looking for their sponges...

Some species may also be active during daytime too. And shells usually do not go out at night when the moon is full. So the worst days are the ones when the moon is gonna be full. As soon as it decrease to be dark they are active again.

I noticed that when moon is in it's full period shells may go hunting during daytime too (too angry I guess...) and so do not wait dark moon period...

Hope this wil lhelp,
Regards
DAVID  <span class="petit">--Last edited by David Touitou on 2007-04-17 21:51:23 --</span>

[muthanna72]

Thank you very much Mr. David for your great Information

Muthanna
<img src="images/smiley/rolleyes.gif" alt="" border="0" />